The harvest is in and it’s time to party. The second annual Franschhoek Oesfees (harvest festival) will be held at the Solms-Delta wine estate on Saturday 4 April 2009. Last year’s Oesfees was a resounding success that brought farm-workers, farm owners and music lovers together in end-of-season revelry.
“The music never stops; I am certain that I have just experienced one of the highlights of my year in South Africa…” said one American tourist. The event embraces South African history through the Cape’s rich musical and culinary heritage in an authentic celebration of the harvest. Striking a significant note in the Boland’s cultural calendar as the region’s first full-scale harvest festival, the Oesfees was the realisation of a dream shared by Solms-Delta farm owners Mark Solms and Richard Astor. The two recognized the need to give thanks for the harvest, and to include all who participated in it. The Franschhoek Oesfees was the result: an authentic, inclusive, non-commercial musical celebration.
At this year’s Oesfees, ten hand-picked ensembles will again perform vernacular music of the rural Cape. From goema to langarm and vastrap to boeremusiek, the exciting line-up of musicians includes legendary South African saxophonist, Robbie Jansen. Jansen played a pioneering role, along with Abdullah Ibrahim and Basil Coetzee, in creating the music that we now call Cape Jazz. Other favourites at the festival include ‘Karoo Kitaar Blues’ star Hannes Coetzee, famous for his spoon-in-the-mouth slide style, and the Gramadoelas, with soulful lyrics from the pen of guitar-guru Les Javan, and the Baardskeerdersbos Orkes, widely known for their nostalgic songs, played on the banjo, concertina and accordion. This year the Gramadoelas’ performance will be particularly poignant as they will play without Alex van Heerden, who tragically lost his life in a vehicle accident this year. Alex was deeply involved in the creation of the Franschhoek Oesfees and its concept of inclusivity and acknowledgement of the fundamental fusion of all Cape cultures, which has produced the Cape vernacular music. Soulful vocalist Jacobus Cloete from Namaqualand makes his debut appearance at this festival together with the award-winning Bitterfontein Riel-dancers and House of David (the family band of Shasha-Lee Davids, one of the Top Ten Idols finalists) who perform traditional Cape ‘Pinkster-Koortjies’ and other local gospel styles.
Introducing home-grown flair to the line-up will be the Delta Optel Band and the Delta Brass Band, all of whose members live and work on Solms-Delta farm. Another local Franschhoek favourite is the Papier Langarm Orkes, which has been entertaining Bolanders for many years. The four Papier brothers - Frank, Albert, Neville and Tienie - are continuing the tradition started by their father, Marthinus Papier more than 70 years ago, when he first started performing in the Franschhoek valley.
Tickets to the day of musical celebration include two glasses of wine and a hearty traditional meal of Cape Malay, Boere and Khoisan foods. This year’s feast promises to be just as quintessentially Cape rustic as that enjoyed by last year’s revellers, who savoured Boland family recipes like Waterblommetjie Bredie, Chicken Breyani, and Smoked Snoek with Sweet Potato in Moskonfyt.
Come and relax on a picnic blanket or at tables under the shade of the oak trees and revel in the pleasure of a perfect day out in true Cape tradition. This charming, truly unique festival takes place on Saturday 4 April from 13h00-21h00 at Solms-Delta Wine Estate - Delta Road, off the R45, Franschhoek Valley. Tickets cost R150.00 per person through Computicket outlets countrywide. For ticket enquiries or more information please contact Therese on 021 874 3937 or Cathy on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Alternatively visit the Solms-Delta website www.solms-delta.co.za.
Contact information:
Paula Wilson
Media Consulting
www.pwmc.co.za
tel: 021 789 1904
fax: 021 789 1905
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
